Desk



'Oct. 10, 1933.

Patented Oct. 10, 1933 DESK Loretta Parrott, Toledo, Ohio Application April 1, 1933. Serial No. 863,988

16 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a desk formed from cardboard, corrugated paper or the like, and so constructed and arranged that it may be shipped in a knockeddown condition and easily and quickly assembled into form for use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a desk which may be economically manufactured, durable, easily and quickly assembled into form for use, and easily and quickly collapsed into knocked-down condition.

It is another object of the invention to provide a desk of this class formed from cardboard, corrugated paper or the like and so constructed and arranged that only one side of the material from which it is made need be finished or colored, as the unfinished or uncolored side may be concealed when the device is assembled for use.

Another object of the invention is the provi- 20 sion of a desk formed from cardboard; cormgated' paper, or the like, and so constructed and arranged that it may be formed from a single sheet of material involving a use of a minimum amount of material.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a desk of this class which may be provided with a removable compartment bearing member which may also be arranged in collapsed or knocked-down condition.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a desk of this class so constructed and arranged that the table forming portion may be reinforced without interfering with its normal use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawing which form a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the invention is made.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the invention with the compartment bearing member removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2 with the cover flap in covering position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3 showing the compartment bearing member in position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the compartment bearing member.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a slightly modifled form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the modified form showing the cover in closed position.

The principle part of the invention is made from a single sheet of material which embodies the front wall 9 and which is scored, creased, or otherwise treated so that it may be folded on the lines 10, 11, and 12 to provide the side walls 13 and 15 and the rear wall 14. The upper portion of the sheet of material is cut away as at 16 and 17 to provide the outwardly projecting flaps 18 66 and 19.

A slot or slit 20 is formed inwardly from one edge or side of the cut away portion 17, and the side wall 13 is creased, scored, or otherwise treated on the line 21 so that the flap 22 may be folded inwardly on the upper portion of the side wall 13. The side wall 15 is similarly scored, or creased on the line 23 so that the flap 24 may be folded inwardly. The sheet of material is also creased or scored on the lines 25 and 27 to provide the table forming portion 26 and the back facing which is formed from the portion 19.

In arranging the sheet into form, the sheet is folded on the lines 10, 11, and 12 so that the side. walls 13 and 15 extend parallel to each other and at right angles to the front wall 9 and the rear wall 14 which are maintained parallel and in spaced relation. The edge of the side wall 15 is secured by an adhesive strip or by glue, stapling, or in any other desired manner to the edge of the front wall 9. The flap 18 thus forms an upper extension on the rear wall 14. The portion 26 is foldedinwardly on the line 25 until it lies in-a horizontal position or extends at right angles to the front and rear walls 9 and 14. This portion 26 forms the table part of the desk. The part 19 is folded on the line 27 to extend upwardly at right angles to the table forming portion 26 and in engagement with the inner face of the rear wall 14, terminating with its upper edge flush with the line 28. The flaps 24 and 22 are folded inwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and this inwardly folded position serves to retain the member or portion 19 in engagement with the rear wall 14. The flap 18 may then be folded on the line 28 so that the portion 59 will extend horizontally or parallel to the table forming portion 26 and in engagement with the upper edges of the side walls 15 and 13. Because of the folding of the flaps 22 and 24 inwardly, the horizontal portion of theside walls does not extend the full width of these side walls but terminates at the diagonally directed edge which is thus formed on each of the side walls. The portion 59 of the flap 18 is of the same! width as. the length of the upper horizontally directed edge of the side walls so that the remaining portion of the flap 18 maybe folded downwardly on the line 58 as shown in Fig. 3 so as to lie on the inclined edges 21 and 23 and serve as a cover or closure for the desk. The flap 16 is also scored or creased on the line 60 so that when it is desired to use the desk, the upper portion of the flap 18 may be folded accordion-like on the line 60 so as to lie on the portion 59 as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

I provide a pigeon hole attachment which may be used with the desk when desired and which will serve to provide a plurality of compartments with the desk. This structure comprises a frame having the oppositely disposed side walls and 32 connected by the oppositely disposed end walls 31 and 33. Longitudinally directed partitions 34 are mounted in the frame by means of the end tongues 34' which are glued or otherwise suitably secured to the inner surfaces of the end walls 31 and 33. These partitions are traversed by the transversely directed partitions 35 which are attached at their ends by means of the tongues 36 which are secured to the inner surfaces of the side walls 30 and 32. Thus I provide compartments 38 which may be used for the usual purposes. This construction is such that it may be collapsed into a compact form similarly to the collapsing of the well known egg crate. When in use the lower side wall 32 rests upon the table portion 26, and the rear edges of the walls 30, 31, 32, and 33 engage against the face of the portion 19 while the upper wall 30 snugly engages the under surface of the portion 59.

The front wall 9 is cut away as at 39 to provide space for the person sitting at the desk.

Supporting partitions 40 and 41 extend fromthe lower edge of the construction so as to engage the floor or other support on which the desk may be positioned. These partitions extend upwardlyadistanceso astoliewiththe upper edges substantially flush with the line 25 so that the table forming portion 26 of the desk willrestupon andbesupported bytheupper edges of the partitions 40 and 41. A partition 42isconnectedtothefrontwallandtherear wall centrally thereof with its upper edge lying substantiallyfiushwiththeline 25 soastoserve as a support or reinforcement for the central portion of the table forming portion 26 of the desk. These partitions are secured to the front and rear walls by means of the laterally extendingtonguesflwhicharebent outwardly from the ends of the partitions, and stapled, glued or olierwisesuitably secured to the front and when it is desired, the construction may be collapsed by removing the compartment forming construction and swinging the portions 26 and 19 so that they lie Parallel with and'form an extension ofthefront wall 9.

Theflaps 22 and 24will,ofcourse, be

outwardlyaswlllalsotheportion18. The col-' lapsingmaythenbeeffectedsothatthefront wall9willlie substantiallyinengagementwith therarwalllithepartitionsswingingonthe lateral extensions or wings which are formed thereon. It will be noted that the end section 72oftheflap13isanwhiehissecured theretosothatwhentheclosln'eismovedtoclosingpositionitwillreachto-theline25 onthe outer edge of the table forming portion 26. It

is obvious that this extension 72 may be cut in one-piece with the cover 18.

It will be noted that only one face of the sheet of material is exposed to view so that a finishing of this face alone will be required. It will also be noted that the raw edges are not exposed except at the opening 39.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 6 and Fig.

7, I attach on eachof the side walls 13 and 15, guide rods 53 slidable along which are the rings 54 which are attached to the alternate fold lines of the cover sections. This permits the sections to be extended vertically, as shown in Fig. 6, when moved to open position. A button 55 mounted on the cover may be secured by a string or other suitable means to a button, 56 mounted on the front wall 9.

. The device may be used as an advertising medium as theexterior surface of the side and front walls provide ample space for advertising display. On account of the construction the device is light and may be moved about from place to place, and it is believed obvious that the economy of manufacture is apparent from the description given.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pateat is:

1.- A desk of the class described formed from cardboard or the like and having a front wall, side walls, and a rear wall; a table forming portion on said front wall foldable inwardly into horizontal position, said side walls projecting upwardly above said table forming portion; and flaps on each of said side walls at their upper ends foldable inwardly to provide a diagonally directed edge on said end said edge terminating at the outer edge of said table forming portion.

2. A desk of the class described formed from cardboard or the like and having a front'wall, side walls, and a rear wall; a table forming portion on said front wall foldable inwardly into horizontal position, said side walls projecting upwardly above said table forming portion; and flaps on each of said side walls at their upper ends, foldable inwardly to provide a diagonally directed edge on said end walls, said edge terminating at the outer edge of saidtable forming portion; and an extension on said rear wall foldable upon itself accordion like and adapted in 130 one position for lying in folded position on the horizontally directed edges of the side walls and for lying on said diagonally directed edges when .moved to another position.

3.'A desk structure of the class described formed from cardboard or the like'comprlsing: a front wall; a rear wall spaced from said front wall; apairofsidewallsconnectingsaidrearwall and said front wall, said side walls being in spaced relation; a table forming portion on said 140 front wall foldable' inwardly and adapted for engagingtheinnersurfaceofsaidrearwalha terminal portion on said table forming portion angularlyturnedtoextendparalleltoandineneasement with the inner face of said rear wall positioned above said table forming portion, said side walls projecting above the location of said table forming portion; and an inwardly directed flapontheouteredgeofeachofsaidsidewalls forming adiagonallydirected edgeinclinedoutwardly and downwardly from the end edge of each of said side walls intermediate the ends thereof. I

4. A desk structure of the class described formed from cardboard or the like comprising: a front wall; a rear wall spaced from said front wall; a pair of side walls connecting said rear wall and said front wall, said side walls being in spaced relation; 31 table forming portion on said front wall foldable inwardly and adapted for engaging the inner surface of said rear wall; a terminal portion on said table forming portion angularly turned to extend parallel to and in engagement with the inner face of said rear wall positioned above said table forming portion, said side walls projecting above the location of said table forming portion; an inwardly directed flap on the outer edge of each of said side walls forming a diagonally directed edge inclined outwardly and downwardly from the end edge of each of said side walls intermediate the ends thereof; and means secured to said walls positioned below and serving as a support for said table forming portion.

5. A desk structure of the class described formed from cardboard or the like comprising: a front wall; a rear wall spaced from said front wall; a pair of side walls connecting said rear wall and said front wall, said side walls being in spaced relation; a table forming portion on said front wall foldable inwardly and adapted for engaging the inner surface of said rear wall; a terminal portion on said table forming portion angularly turned to extend parallel to and in engagement with the inner face of said rear wall positioned above said table forming portion, said side walls projecting above the location of said table forming portion; an inwardly directed flap on the outer edge of each of said side walls forming a diagonally directed edge inclined outwardly and downwardly from the end edge of each of said side walls intermediate the ends thereof; and means secured to said walls positioned below and serving as a support for said table forming portion, the lower central portion of said front wallbeing cut away to provide a clearance.

6. A desk construction of the class described comprising: a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of oppositely disposed side walls formed from a single sheet of material, said side walls being in spaced relation and extending at right angles to said front and rear walls for maintaining these walls in spaced relation; a portion on said front wall foldable inwardly toward said rear wall to provide a table portion, said table portion terminating in an upwardly turned portion engaging the inner face of said rear wall, each of said side walls being provided at the forward edge of the upper ends with an inwardly foldable flap to provide a diagonally directed edge on the forward upper side of each of said side walls, said edge being directed downwardly from the upper edge of each of said side walls intermediate the ends thereof and terminating at its lower end with the outer edge of said table formingportion '7. A desk construction of the class described comprising; a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of oppositely disposed side walls formed from a single sheet of material, said side walls being in spaced relation and extending at right angles to said front and rear walls for maintaining these walls in spaced relation; a portion on said front wall foldable inwardly toward said rear wall to provide a table portion, said table portion terminating in an upwardly turned portion engaging the inner face of said rear wall, each of said side walls being provided at the forward edge of the upper ends with an inwardly foldable flap to provide a diagonally directed edge on the forward upper side of each of said side walls, said edge being directed downwardly from the upper edge of each of said side walls intermediate the ends thereof and terminating at its lower end with the outer edge of said table forming portion; and means positioned beneath said table forming portion and enclosed by said walls for supporting said table forming portion.

8. A desk construction of the class described, comprising: a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of oppositely disposed side walls formed from a single sheet of material, said side walls being in spaced relation and extending at right angles to said front and rear walls for maintaining these walls in spaced relation; a portion on said front wall foldable inwardly toward said rear wall to provide a table portion, said table portion terminating in an upwardly turned portion engaging the inner face of said rear wall, each of said side walls being provided at the forward edge of the upper ends with an inwardly foldable flap to provide a diagonally directed edge on the forward upper side of each of said side walls, said edge being directed downwardly from the upper edge of each of said side walls intermediate the ends thereof and terminating at its lower end with the outer edge of said table forming portion; and means positioned beneath said table forming portion and enclosed by said walls for supporting said table forming portion, said walls and said supporting means upon swinging of said table forming portion into alignment with the front wall, being collapsible upon each other.

9. A desk construction of the class described formed from cardboard or the like and comprising: oppositely disposed side walls; a front wall; a rear wall spaced rearwardly from said front wall, said walls being formed from a single sheet of material; a table forming portion carried by said front wall and foldable inwardly toward said rear wall, said side wall and said rear wall projecting upwardly from the location of said table forming portion when the same is folded inwardly; and a cover member carried by said rear wall and foldable into position for enclosing the space determined by said rear wall, said side walls and said table forming portion.

10. A desk construction of the class described formed from cardboard or the like and comprising: oppositely disposed side walls; a front wall; a rear wall spaced rearwardly from said front wall, said walls being formed from a single sheet of material; a table forming portion carried by said front wall and foldable inwardly toward said rear wall, said side wall and said rear wall projecting upwardly from the location of said table forming portion when the same is folded inwardly; a cover member carried by said rear wall and foldable into position for enclosing the space determined by said rear wall, said side walls and said table forming portion; and guide means for guiding said cover member in its movements from one position to another.

11. A desk construction of the class described formed from cardboard or the like and comprising: oppositely disposed side walls; a front wall; a rear wall spaced rearwardly from said front wall, said walls being formed from a single sheet of material; a table forming portion carried by said front wall and foldable inwardly toward said rear wall, said side wall and said rear wall mounted on the side walls; and means on said cover member for riding on said guide rails and guiding said cover member in its movements from one position to another.

12. An article of furniture formed from cardboard or the like and having a rear wall, side walls, a front wall, and a top portion, said side walls being swingable away from the plane of the rear wall, said front wall being swingable relatively to the side walls into parallelism with the rear wall, saidtop portion being swingable away from the plane of the front wall toward the rear wall to seat between the side walls, which side walls and rear wall extend upwardly from said top portion, said front wall having spaced from the top portion a leg receiving opening.

13. An article of furniture formed from cardboard or the like and having a rear wall, side walls, a front wall, and a top portion, said side walls being swingable away from the plane of the rear wall, said front wall being swingable relatively to the side walls into parallelism with the rear wall, said top portion being swingable away from the plane of the front wall toward the rear wall to seat between the side walls, which side walls and rear wall extend upwardly from said top portion, a flexible cover in operative position engaging the upwardly extending portions of said side walls, said cover being shiftable toward the rear'wall to inoperative position for exposing said top portion.

14. An article of furniture formed from cardboard or the like and having a rear wall, side walls, a front wall, and a topportion, said side walls being swingable away from the plane of the rear wall, said front wall being swingable relatively to the side walls into parallelism with the rear wall, said top portion being swingable away from the plane of the front wall toward the rear wall to seat between the side walls, which side walls and rear wall extend upwardly from said top portion, said side walls being provided with guide means, a flexible cover in operative position engaging the upwardly extending portions of said side walls and engaging said guide means and being shiftable along'said guide means toward the rear wall to inoperative position to expose said top portion.

15. An article of furniture of cardboard or the like having vertical rear, side and front walls, and a top flush at its forward portion with the front wall, said front wall having a leg receiving opening below said top, said top being swingable on the front wall upward away from the rear wall out of holding position for the side walls for thereafter collapsing the side and front walls with the top toward the plane of the rear wall.

16. An article of furniture formed from cardboard or the like having front, rear and side walls and a top portion, said article being unfoldable from a flat knocked-down position to bring the walls into approximately rectangular relation, said top portion being swingable from the front wall toward the rear wall to hold the walls set up, said front wall having a leg receiving opening beneath said top portion.

IDRE'ITA PARROTI. 

